Setts



A. L. RUSSELL AND C. E. GRUSH.

STREICHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZI. I914. 1,313,917. Patented Aug. 26,1919.

7- III 7 infirm/555m {1w 6 mam/MR5 v KM 3 2 l I M W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

ARTHUR I. RUSSELL, 0F BOSTON, AND CHARLES E. GRUSH, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COR- PORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STRETCHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 27, 1914. Serial No. 827,609.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, An'rnun L. Russian and CHARLES E. Gnusn, citizens of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, and at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, respectively, have invented certain Improvements in Stretching-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to the manufacture of articles which are generally to conform to surfaces over which they are to be placed and has for its objects to provide a machine by which an economy of material can be effected, labor costs reduced and the fit of articles improved and made more perma nent.

The invention is embodied in a machine by which may be effected local stretching of interior portions of stock progressively as by repeated operations of the machine upon the same, adjacent, or successive portions of the stock. Advantageously a small width only of stock will be subjected to tension at a time and then relieved, and the same or an adjacent portion ofthe stock subjected to tension at the next operation of a continuously running machine. Thus by repeated action of the machine, interior portions of an upper may be permanently stretched before application to a last to lit the curved faces of the last and the low and the high or prominent portions of the last, as for example the high toes, the low balls and the deep shanks of modern lasts. Advantageously the machine is organized to seize a portion of stock at adjacent points or on adjacent lines and, by movement of the engaging means relatively apart, to stretch the intervening portion of the stock in the direction relatively to the length of the last which is required to make the upper fit over the particular portion of the last upon which it is to be applied. The machine, or it may be the operator, will then transfer the stock in the direction of feed, release the stock, move reversely to the direction of feed, and into relation for again similarly seizing an adjacent portion of the stock, the

stock being turned if desired while it is released to obtain the desired directions for successive stretching movements. Provisions may be made for varying the length and also the direction of the pulling and, also the feeding movements, with opportunity for the operator to accelerate or diminish the food if desired, so that the extent of stretching, the closeness of stretched portions together, including it may be, overlapping thereof or spacings therebctween, as well as repetition of the stretching action back and forth across the stock may be obtained at the will of the operator, the stock supporting means being adapted to facilitate turning of the stockby the operator to facilitate stretchingin directions inclined to one another, in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the machine selected for illustration, a work table serves to support the stock, and two pincers, which are supported for movements in opposite directions to stretch and feed the stock, have their gripping jaws located near the middle of the table. The lower jaw of each of these pincers is rigid with its carrier arm and projects up through a slot in the table and supports the interior portion of the stock which is being stretched, while each cooperating upper jaw is movably sustained from its respective pincer arm for stock seizing and releasing action, by a plurality of parallel, outwardly inclined links, the links for one movable jaw being inclined oppositely from the those of the other movable jaw. These pincers are so actuated as to alternately move toward and from each other to stretch and feed the stock. An extended arm from one of the links of each movable jaw may be provided which will have sliding engagement with a rod carrying yielding means for cooperating with a crank arm which may be shifted to details of construction, will be described into the same portion of the stock or will per mit the operator to manipulate the stock to feed it as desired. r

The various features of the invention, many of whieh are believed to be broadly novel, including certain highly desirable combinations of parts and more'important connection with the accompanying drawings and will then be pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings V Y Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly sectional, of an illustrative machine embodying the invention; and I Fig. 2 is a detail view in front elevation, on a reduced scale, of certain parts illustrated. in Fig. 1.

The machine frame is provided with a base 3 having holes 4 to receive bolts forclamping to a suitable support. The frame also sustains bearings for a driving shaft 6 to which is secured a pulley 8 for receiving power through a belt from any convenient source. A work table 10 is sustained from the frame and has a slot or. opening 12 located interiorly of its'edges' and preferably near its middle. e

The pincer comprise upper jaw carrying arms 20, 24 respectively, extending over the table 10 and lower jaw carrying arms 22, 26 extending under the table, each lower arm having a foot 65 confined and guided in the frame by plates 66 for movement lengthwise of the arms toward nd from the opening 12 in the table. The lower arms 22, 26 carry vertically fixed jaws 28, 30 which project upwardly through the opening 12 in the table 10 and hold the work raised slightly above the face of the table. The upper arms 20, 24 carry respectively coeperating'jaws 32, 34 each of which is suspended from its arm by a pair of parallel links 36, 37 and 38, 39, Fig. 1. The links are inclined outwardly so that as the pincers are moved apart, Fig. 2, one toward the left and the other toward the right, they will be caused by the pull of the stock to grip and hold with increasing force.

The initial grip of the stock is produced by the closing springs 49, guided on rod 44 and acting against the upward extensions 40, 41 of one link 36, 39 of each pincer. These extensions constitute levers arranged so that they can be pressed together between the thumb and forefinger of one hand to raise the two upper jaws 32, 34 simultaneously for insertion of the work.

The rod 44 passe loosely through the lever extensions 40, 41 at 42, 43 and on its oppositely threaded end portions the rod carries adjustable abutments 45, 45 against which the lever extensions strike near the outer ends of the pincer pulling movements. By this engagement with the stops 45 the links 36, 37 and 38, 39 are turned in the direction to lift the jaws 32, 34 and release their grip on the work.

The points in their stroke at which this release occurs, and therefore the length of the upper pulling or stretching movements, is determined by the positions of the stops 45 and this can be adjusted by turning the rod which for this purpose has a rigid collar 47 with radial holes for application of an instrument by which to rotate the rod. The stops 45' are prevented from turning by square heads that have a sliding fit between side plates of the arms 20, 24.

During the return movement of the pincers, toward each other, to starting position the inclination of the links enables the aws 32, 34 to slide easily over the work. The operator usually keeps his hands upon the work to hold it smoothly outspread and to' guide it so that the stretching pulls'shall be in the desired direct-ions lengthwise, transversely or obliquely of the piece. of work being shaped. 1 i The pincers may be caused to feed the work automatically toward the right 1 or toward the left as an incident to their upper stretching operation. As herein shown this is accomplished by releasing one pincer from the upper during the pulling movement while the other continues its outward movement with its jaw gripped upon the work and thereby moves the work in the direction toward which it is traveling. In the illustrative machine the rod 44 carrying the stops is adjusted endwise, freely through levers 40, 41, to locate one or the other stop farther from the gripping point according to the direction of feed desired.

The rod 44 has a fixed collar 46 between which and the collar 47 the rod is embraced by an arm 48 of a rock-shaft 50 mounted in a bearing arm 100 of the frame. At its rear end rock-shaft 50 has an arm 52 havingthe lost motion provided between the stops at 0 on the arm and the stop 6 rigid with the rook-' shaft. The free end of arm 52 is connected at 55 by rod 54 with angle lever 56 on which is a knee fork 58 through which the operator can rock the shaft 50 to place one stop 45 nearer than the other to its lever 40 or 41. In such position the nearer stop 45 will cause its coeperating lever to lift its jaw 32 or 34 while the other jaw continues to hold the upper. The pincer so holding on to the upper will therefore feed the upper in the direction of its movement at the end of each stretching movement of the pincers and therefore will present a fresh portion of stock to be gripped and stretched at each operation of the machine. The direction of feed is determined by the direction of movement of knee fork 58. The length of feed is determined by the extent of movement of the knee fork. The lost motion at a, b, c prevents undesired feeding when manual manipulation of the work by the operators hands is preferred. Springs 60, 60 above nd below guide 57 center the knee fork normally. A spring plunger 63 having a tapering head located in a V-shaped notch in arm 1.8 normally centers the rock-shaft. Adjustment of the arm 18 toward one or the other of the springs 49 will vary the force with which said spring presses the movable jaw, associated with it, toward the fixed aw.

.The reciprocatory movements of the pincers, by which the jaws are carried into gripping position, then moved reversely to stretch the upper until released by the stops L5 and are then returned, are effected through link connections 67, Fig. 2, between the lower arms 22, 26 of the pincer and a reciprocated bar 68. The bar is operated by a crank pin 7 2 of a crank disk on the front end of the shaft 6. Preferably the bar has a cam slot in which the crank pin works to accelerate the movement of the pincer during the first portion of the throw of the crank and to retard it before the return stroke begins, the object being to obtain a quick grip and initial stretch with a slow filial stretch amounting nearly to a dwell.

The design of the cam slot 7 0 is shown as such that when the crank pin starts downwardly, Fig. 2, for example toward the left, and the pincers grip and begin to pull the upper, the crank pin encounters the upwardly inclined lower face of the left hand portion of slot 70. It therefore moves bar 68. downwardly, and the pincers apart, at a rate determined by its own downward movement plus the upward inclination of the slot. During the second 90 of its throw the crank pin moves backwardly down the cam slot toward its middle and therefore the bar 68 and the pincers are slowly moved during the second quarter of the crank throw a dis tance equal to the difference between the length of the crank throw and the length of the cam incline. In practice differently shaped cams are appropriate for different classes of work. The machine may run continuously or may be equipped with a treadle controlled clutch, not shown.

In the use of the machine, the operator first presses inwardly upon the handled extensions 40, L1, compressing the springs 49,

and causing the upper jaws of the pincers to be lifted by the parallel links. The shoe upper or other sheet of stock to be operated upon is then placed on the work table, the clearance between the upper and lower arms of the pincers, as well as between the upper and lower jaws, permitting the work to be positioned so that any desired interior portion of the work remote from its edges may be insertedbetween the jaws of the pincers. The handles 40 and 41 are then released and the springs 49 will cause the upper aws to clamp the work against the lower jaws of the pincers with a light, yielding pressure. The reciprocation of the bar 68 will thus effect, through the links 67, simultaneous inward and outward movements of the pincers. The work is manually held smooth and in slight frictional contact with the table and at each outward movement of the pincers the stock which has been seized by the jaws thereof will be stretched until the lever extensions -il-0, 41, or either of them strike the release stops 4:5 after which if one release stop is struck first the stock will be fed toward the other one by the continued pull of the pincer associated with said other stop. Since the dimensions and relations of the pairs of jaws are such that the extent through which they grasp the stock in the direction of stretching movement is considerably greater than the normal or initial separation between the adjacent edges of the pairs, the stretching action is more sharply localized and under closer control by the operator than would be the case were the jaws narrow and allowed the action to extend back of the engaging surfaces. Upon a reverse or inward movement of the pincers the movable jaws .32, 31 will, by reason of the inclined position of their supporting links, slide over the stock, which latter will be reengaged by the jaws and further stretched when the pincers again move outwardly. The direction in which the operator shifts the knee lever and consequently the release stops controls the direction in which the stock will be fed, and the amount of such shifting movement controls the length of the feed as well as the length of the pulling movement.

It will be seen that with this machine the operator can stretch different portions of the leather which is to be used for shoe uppers, and especially those parts which are designed to fit over the high portions of the curved contour of a last, as for example, the high toe, and that the amount of stretching which the leather receives, as well as its location, may be readily controlled by the operator. The upper may not only be stretched along parallel lines back and forth by controlling the direction of feed but during the intervals between pulling movements of the pincers the operator may turn the work so as to obtain successive stretching effects in all desired directions. This is important in shaping a vamp to a high-teed last because the best results are obtained by stretching from the center or highest point outwardly in all directions. In shaping the upper to fit the last back of the high toe to prevent bridging from the toe to the instep stretching in a direction lengthwise of the last only is required to provide the fullness to lay down in that hollow portion of the last; similarly in shaping the shank portions of a shoeupper to fit into a narrow j be chiefly lengthwise and will range from a maximum at and near the edge to a minimum remote from the edge. This gradation of the stretching action may be obtained by varying the rate of feed, increasing the rate of course as the operation progresses away from the edge. In forming the heel pocket to fit'around the ball of the heel the stretching may be largely or entirely lengthwise to produce the necessary fullness for thispurpose with the desired close fit around the edge of the heel seat.

Having explained the nature of this invention and described an illustrative machine embodying the same in the best form now known to us, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States l. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, and continuously operating means constructed and arrangedto grip a sheet of leather Over two small areas located wholly within and remote from the edges of the sheet and while maintaining a fixed engagement with the sheet to move apart in a plane parallel with the surface of the sheet for applying local stretching to an interior portion of the stock by repeated operations of the machine.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, and non-slipping stock-engaging means for stretching the stock by repeated operations applied locally to an area lying within and not including its edges.

3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, continuously operating devices arranged to engage the stock at adjacent points located wholly. Within and remote from the edge of the stock, then move apart to stretch it while remaining in contact therewith at the points of initial engagement, then release the stock, and then move together again to reengage the stock, and actuating means for said devices.

' 4. A machine of the class described having, incombination, means constructed and arranged to engage stock 'at adjacent points,

and actuating mechanism to cause said 'means to move relatively apart to stretch the stock. to feed the stock, to release the stock, and to move reversely into position for engaging an adjacent portion of the stock to be stretched. 7

-5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means constructed and arranged to engage stock at adjacent points, and mechanism to move the engaging means laterally apart to stretch the stock progressively by repeated operations applied to successive portions of the stock, said mechanism being organized'to cause the engaging means to release the stock during a portion of the cycle of the machine to allow it to be fed or positioned independently of said engaging means. 7

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for seizing ad j acent portions of stock lying within and not including its edge, and continuously op 7 A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, means forsei'zing adj acent portions of stock, and mechanism to cause said means to stretch the stock, to

transfer the stock inthe direction of feed, 7

to release the stock, to move reversely and reengage the stock, and means to control the extent of the feeding movements imparted to the stock.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for seizing adjacent portions of stock, and continuously acting mechanism to cause said means to stretch the stock, to feed the stock, to release the stock, to move reversely and reengage the stock. and means to control the direction in which the stock is fed. I

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, meansfor successively eflecting local stretching of the interior portions of stock by repeated operations, means for feeding the stock between the successive stretching operations, and means to control the direction in which the stock is fed.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for successively effecting local stretching of the interior portions only of stock, means for feeding the stock between the successive stretching operations, and means to control the extent of the feeding movements.

11.. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for successively effecting local stretching of the interior portions of stock, means for feeding the stock between the successive stretching operations, and means to control the direction and extent of the feedingmovements.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for successively seizing and stretching the interior portions of stock, means for feeding the stock be and for moving the seizing means relatively apart to stretch the'stock, means to feed the stock between successive stretching operations, and means to control the time at which the stretching means surrenders the stock to the feeding means.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pincers arranged to seize adjacent portions of stock and each having a fixed and a movable jaw, of yielding means for forcing the n'iovalole jaws toward the fixed jaws, and means for alternately effecting relative movements of the pincers toward and from each other to stretch successive portions of the stock.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pincers arranged to seize adjacent portions of stock and each having a fixed and a movable jaw, of yielding means for forcing the movable jaws toward the fixed jaws, means to vary the force of said yielding means for either pincer, and means for alternately effecting relative movements of the pincers toward and from each other to stretch successive portions of the stock.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pincers arranged to seiZe adjacent portions of stock and each having a fixed and a movable jaw, of a spring for forcing each movable jaw toward its cooperating fixed jaw, means for causing the pincers to feed the stock, including means to control the direction and extent of the feeding movements imparted to the stock, and means for alternately moving the pincers toward and from each other to successively stretch and feed the stock.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pincers having movable and fixed jaws arranged to seize adjacent portions of stock, of parallel links sustaining a movable jaw of each pincer in cooperative relation with a fixed jaw, yielding means for actuating the movable jaws and means for alternately effecting relative movements of the pincers in opposite direct ons to stretch the stock.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with upper holding means and a pincer arranged to engage adjacent portions of stock, said pincer having movable and fixed jaws, of inclined parallel links sustaining the movable jaws of the pincer, yielding means to cause gripping engage- ,ment of the jaws with the stock, and means for causing movements of the pincer to suecessively seize, stretch, release and reengage the stock.

19. .In a machine of the class described, the combination with pincers having movable and fixed jaws arranged to engage adjacent portions of stock, of oppositely inclined parallel links siistaining the movable jaws from the pincers, springs acting to force the movable jaws toward the fixed jaws, and means for causing simultaneous "reciprocating movements of the pincers in opposite directions to successively seize, stretch, release, feed and reengage the stock.

.20. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pincers having fixed jaws, of cooperating movable jaws and oppositely inclined links sustaining said movable jaws from the pincers, guiding means extending from a sustaining link of each movable jaw, a rod movable in said guiding means, collars on said rod, stops on the rod for engagement by the said guiding means to release the grip of the aws on the work, an arm extending between said collars, and manually-controllable means for effecting movements of the arm and the rod to position the stops for causing one stop to release one pincer before the other pincer is released.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pincers having fixed jaws, of cooperating movable jaws and means for sustaining said jaws from the pincers including oppositely inclined links having handled extensions by which the jaws may be lifted to release the work, perforated bosses in said extensions, a rod guided in the perforations, spaced collars on said rod, springs confined between said bosses and collars and normally acting to produce depression of the jaws to grip the work, and stops arranged on the rod to be engaged by said extensions to lift the jaws automatically.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination with pincers having fixed jaws, of cooperating movable jaws and means for sustaining said jaws from the pincers including oppositely; inclined links having handled extensions by which :the jaws may be lifted to release the work, perforated bosses in said extensions, a rod guided in the perforations, spaced collars on said rod, springs confined between said bosses and collars and normally acting to produce depression of the jaws to grip the work, stops arranged on the rod to be engaged by said cxtensionsto lift the jaws automatically, and means for adjusting the rod to position one stop to release a pincer before the other pincer is released, said means comprising a crank arm located between said collars, a knee lever, and connections between said arm and lever.

23. In a machine of the class} described, the combination with a work table having an opening therein, of pincers comprising arms embracing the table and cooperating gripping jaws carried by the arms and arranged over said opening, and means for imparting repeated movements to the pincers in opposite directions to effect successive stretching of a predetermined area of the interior portions of stock.

.24. In a machine of the classdescribed, the combination. with a work tablehaving an opening therein, of pincers comprising --movements to the pincers in opposite directions to stretch successive portions of the stock and to feed the stock between the stretching operations. 7 r

.25. In a machine of the class described, the combination With a Work table having an opening thereinyof pincers comprising arms embracing-,the table I and cooperating gripping aws carried by the arms and arranged over said openlng, means for guiding the pincers, and means for reciprocating the pincers comprising links connecting adjacent portions of said pincers, a bar connected With said links and having a cam slot, and

a power-driven shaft provided with a crank .pin to enter said slot. 7 26. In a machine of the class described, the combination with two pincers arranged to engage stock at adjacent points and means to move'them relatively to stretch the stock progressively 'by repeated operations applied to successive portions of the stock,

.said operating means being constructed'and arranged to impart a quick initial vmovementto a pincer fOllOWBd'bY a 810W pulling movement during which the stock is held under tension and thenautomatically to release a pincer.

the combination Withtvvo pincers arranged to engage stock at adjacent points, and means to move them relatively to stretch the stock progressively by repeated operations ap'plied'to successive portions of the stock,

said operating means comprising a sliding 7 bar, togglelinks connected to the: pincers,ia

'crank, and a cam slot inthe bar located to and slide over itas they are moved relareceive the crankand formed to accelerate the 1n1t1al movement of the plncers during Which the stock is being seized and to retard a;.later move1nent of the pincers during which they are stretching the stock;

'28. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting and stretching interior portions ofshoe upper stock compris ing two pincers having lower jaws and up- .vper avvs, l1nks support1ng .the upper aws and inclined downwardly and rearvvardly relatively to the lower jaws whereby thejaWs automatically grip and then pull the stock as the pincers are moved relatively apart 'tively toward each other, and means for'imparting to. the pincers a quick initial move -ment apartzto effect seizing ofthe stock and then a relatively slow continued movement apart to stock. 1 e

'29. A machine of-the class described having, in combination, {means for supporting produce gradual stretching of the of the stock, continuously operating devices acting to engage the 'stock at adjacent points, then" move apart to stretch it, then release the its edge and means for relatively moving said pincers apart to'efiiect stretching of the portion of upper located between them i V 31; A machine for stretching uppers h av-, ing, in combination, tWo adjacentpincers arranged to fixedly engage an ,upper in teriorly of and not including its edge and 'means for-relatively moving .said pincers apart in the same plane to reflect stretching portion of upper located f between them. r l 1 r 82. A machine for stretching uppers hav ing, in combination, meansfor'engaging an upper interiorly of and not including its edge and holdingit, a'pincer arranged to engage the upper also interiorly of and at points removed from its edgeand adjacent to the holding means, andoperatmg mechanism to cause said pincer and holding means 1 to gripthe upper and retain it against slip- 27.-- In a machineof the class descrlbed,

ping and thenythe' pincer to move-away from the holding means to stretch a portion of and remote fromthe edge of the upper.

33. Afmachine for stretching uppers having, in combination, a WOIllftEllJlQ,{tWO pincers each comprisingjanupper and a lower carrying arm located respectively above and below the table vvith clearance;

between. the table and the upper arm for reception and movement of thecworkoutspread on the table, jaws on the lower arms.-

projecting upwardly through the table, cooperating aws on the upper arms disco 11 nect'ed from the lower 'jaWs and movable terior portions of the ivorkoutspread on the ,the pincers formed and arranged 'wvitli clearance for a substantia l distance from the jaws to adapt the jaws toseizein-terior portions of the stock remote from and not in- "cluding theledge of'the ork, the jaws of .one pincer being located adjacent to the aws ottheother pincer,. and means foroprelatively thereto to seize andrelease the in ".1115 table, and means for moving the-pincers I V apart to stretch the portion of the upper 10- crating the jaws to stretch interior portions of the stock located between the pincers.

35'. A machine for stretching uppers having in combinatioma work table, means arranged relatively thereto to seize atpoints remote from the edge and hold an interior portionof sheet stock supported on the table and not including the edge of the stock, and means for engaging an adjacent interior portion of the stock and stretching the stock lying between said two means to produce a permanent fullness over the areas operated uponso as to permanently change its condition as compared with the portions of the stock which are not stretched.

36. A machine for stretching uppers having, in combination, two adjacent pincers adapted to engage the stock and operating means to cause said pincers to stretch the stock between the areas of initial engagement while the portions beyond said area remain substantially unaiiected by such stretching action. a

' 37. A machine forstretching uppers having, in combination, two adjacent pincers and operating means'tor causing them to non-slippingly engage interior portions of the stoclcnot including its edge and stretch the portion of stock between them and repeat their operation indefinitely.

38. A machine forstretchinguppers having, in combinatiom upper holding means, a pincer adjacent thereto, said parts being arrangedto permit the holding means and pincer to engage interior portions of the stock located remote from-and not extending to the edge of the stock, and. operating means for causing the pincer to seize a portion of stock adjacent to the holding means and? retain it against slipping, stretch the stock between it and the holding means, release and reengage the stock and repeat its operations indefinitely to stretch the stock progressively; g

39. A machine for stretching uppers having, in combination, upper holding means, a pincer adjacent thereto, said parts being arranged to permit the holding means and pincerto engage interior portions of the stock, and operating means for causing the pincer to seize a portion of stock adjacent to the holding means, stretch the stock between it and theiholding means, release and reengage the stock and repeat its operations indefinitely, said holdingmeans and pincer being constructed and arranged to permit relative movement between the pincer 'and the upper on the one hand and the holding means on the other hand whereby successive stretching actions may be, made to take effect on different portions of the stock.

40. A machine for stretching uppers having, incombination, upper holding means, a pincer adjacent thereto-, said parts being arranged to permit the holding means and pincer to engage interior portions of the stock, and operating means or causing the pincer toseize a portion of stock adjacent to the holding means, stretch the stock between it and the holding means, release and reengage the stock and repeat its operations indefinitely, said operating means being constructed and arranged to cause the holding means and pinccrs to release the stock at different times to cause it to be repositioned whereby successive stretching actions may be made to take effect on different portions of the stock.

41. A machine for stretching uppers hav ing, in combination, upper holding means and an automatically operating pincer constructed and arranged to engage an interior portion of the upper adjacent to the upper holding means, stretch the portion of upper between it and said means, feed the upper relatively to the holding means, release the upper and rei ngage the fed stock in position to stretch a fresh portion located between it and the holding means. a

42. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, continuously operating means for applying local stretching to an interior portion of the stock not including its edge by repeated operations of the machine, and means for producing feeding movement of the stock.

43. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, means "for supporting stock. and means tor alternately stretching and feeding thestock by repeated operations applied locally to an area lying within its edges, said supporting means and stretching means being constructed and arranged to permit the stock to be moved to change the direction of the stretching action relative to the length or breadth of the stock during uninterrupted operation of the machine.

44. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, and means for stretching the stock by repeated operations applied locally to an arealying within and not including its edges, said stretching means being constructed and arranged to cause the stock to be moved to cover thedi'flerentportions of such area during different cycles of the machine. j

45. A machine of the class described having, in combinatiom'means for supporting stock, continuously operating means for applying local stretching to an interior portion of thestoclt by repeated operations of the machine, and means by which feeding movement of the stock can be produced forth and back through the stretching means i 6. Amachine of the class described having, incombination, means for supporting stock, continuously operating means for applying local stretching to an interior portion of the stock by repeated operations of the machine, and'means for producing feeding movement of the stock, said supporting, stretching and feeding means being constructed and arranged to permit the direc- 7 tion of the advance of the stock to be modified while the machine is in operation.

47. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, continuously operating means for applying local stretching to an interior portion of the stock by repeated operations of the machine, and means for producing teed mg movement of the stock, said machine including means under control of the operator while the machine is running for vary ing the length of the feeding movements.

4:8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, and continuously operating means for applying local stretching to aninterior portion of the stock not including its edge by opening one pincer before the other pincer 7 caused to; feed-the stock repeated operations of the machine, said machine 1nclud1ng means under control 01" the operator for varying the extent of-the stretching action produced by successive I cycles of the machlne.

49. A machine of'the class described having, in combination, meansconstructedand arranged to engage stock at adj acent points, and automatically repeating mechanism to cause said means to stretch 'andshift the stock progressively by repeated operations applied to successive portions of the stock, sa d engaging means and operating mechamsm being constructed and arranged to per- 'mit the direction in which the stock is shifted to be varied. 7

. 50. In a machine of the class described, the combination with two pincers arranged to engage stock at acent points and means to move them relatively to stretch thestock progressively by repeated operations applied to successive portions of the stock, ofmeans for manually opening both pincers together for the insertion of the stock.

51. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with two pincers arranged to'engage stock at j adjacent points and means to move them relatively to stretchthe I stock progressively by repeated operations 1 the other to part of its movement away from the first pincer. v i

.53. In a machine of class described, the combination withtwo pincers arranged to engage stock at adjacent points, means 1 for moving the pincers in opposite direc tions to stretch the portion of stock located between them, and means for automatically opening the pincers preparatory to their return movement, said means being adjustable to vary the length of the stretching move ment.

54. In a machine of-the class described, 7

combination with two pincers arranged to engage stock atadjacentpoints, means I f for moving the pincers in opposite directions to stretchthe portion of stock located between them, and means for automatically opening the pincers preparatory to their return movement, said means being adjust-f able to' cause either pincer to open first and feed the stock before it opened. p I

55. In a:machine of-the class for moving the pincers in opposite 'direc:

tions to stretch the portion of stock located described, the combination with two jplncers arranged to engage stock at ad acent pomts, means between them, and means for automatically causing one pincer to cease pulhng while the a? other pincer continues to pull the stock whereby the stock is advancedwith thelatter pincer. v p

56. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting and stretching intea rior portions of shoe upper stock comprising two pincers having lower jaws, and upper jaws, links supporting theupper jaws and inclined downwardly and rearwardly rela- I tively to the lower jaws whereb5 h laws automatically grip and then pull'the stock as the pincers 'are moved relatively apart and slide over it asthey aremovedrelatively toward each other, and means for relatively moving the pincers.' V

57. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting-andstretching interior portions of shoe upper'stock comprising two pincers having lowerjaws, and upper jaws, links supporting .the upper jaws and inclined downwardly: and rearwardl'y.

aws, mechanism for.

relatively to the lower moving the pincers simultaneously in opposite directions to stretch-the upper, and

means by which the upper jaws of the two i vpincers maybe simultaneously lifted manually to permit manipulation ofthe' upper within the pincers.

58. In a machineof the class described, 7

means tor -supportingandstretchinginteriorportions of shoe upper stock comprising two p ncers h'aving lower jaws, and upper aws, llnks supporting the upperf jaws and incllned downwardly and "rearwardly rel'atively to the lower jaws, mechanism for moving the pincers simultaneously in op posite directions to stretch the upper, and extensions on two links of the upper jaws of the pincers to form levers which can be pressed together to lift the upper jaws.

59. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, and means acting in a direction substantially parallel with the plane of the stock on the supporting means and upon a limited area of the stock to permanently stretch and produce a fullness over said area as compared with surrounding portions of the stock.

60. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, and continuously operating means for applying local stretching to an interior portion of the stock not including its edge sufficient t0 appreciably alter its condition as compared with its edge portions so that the stretched portions of the stock will fit a curved surface of a last.

61. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for supporting stock, and means for so stretching the stock by repeated operations applied to an area lying wholly within but not including its edges as to permanently change the condition of the stretched portions to cause the stock to fit variations in contour of an irregularly shaped form.

62. In a stretching machine, members relatively movable toward and from one another and engaging material to be operated upon and movable apart to stretch it more over its interior portion than at its edges and thereby produce a fullness at said interior portion, and means for effecting successive relative movements of the engaging means.

63. A machine of the class described having, in combination, spaced pairs of pincer jaws for engaging the opposite sides of stock, and continuously operating means moving in a plane transversely of the plane of the stock to cause said jaws to seize the stock, to move apart to stretch it, and to move reversely to release the stock.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR L. RUSSELL. CHARLES E. GRUSH. Witnesses:

CHAnLEs H. Hor'r, CHESTER E. Roenns.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,313.917, granted August 26,

1919, upon the application of Arthur L. Russell, of Boston, and Charles E. Grush,

of Beverly, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Stretehingdtiaehines, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 7, lines 5 and 6, claim 35, strike out the words at points remote from the edge; same page, line 18, claim 36, after the word stock insert the words at points remote from the edge; same page and claim, line 21, for the word area read areas; and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of December, A. D., 1919.

[SEAL] M. H. COULSTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 01. 12-51. 

